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Hi, I’m Jane Whitehead Head of Student Funding at Coventry University and I’ve been asked to tell you a little bit about
student funding.
Before you come to University its very important to have
all the funding that you are entitled to in place for when you start.
This means applying early, normally the cycle opens with the Student Loans Company
around February in the year before you are about to start your studies.
so it always worth looking out for that
and getting your application in very early
and this applies to
tuition fee loans, maintenance loans and of course any disability student allowance
that you might want to claim.
Every student is entitled to apply for a tuition fee loan if its their first degree,
if they’ve studied before then you will need to take advice.
But even when we go into 2012 when we have the higher fees every student
starting a new undergraduate degree
can ask for the tuition fee loan from the Student Loans Company.
In addition,
you can ask for a maintenance grant and maintenance loan
sometimes referred to as a loan and grant for living costs.
And don’t forget a tuition fees loan
is non means tested, it doesn’t matter what income you’ve got
you will be able to get one to cover your tuition fees.
Also from the student loans company,
you can ask for a grant towards living costs and also a loan towards living costs.
These used to be referred to as maintenance grant and maintenance loan.
A maintenance grant in full,
any student is eligible for it
it if their household income is below £25,000 per year
and you don’t have to repay this grant.
If your income is above that, up to £43,000 then you
will have a partial maintenance loan.
So the higher your income up to £43,000 the less grant that you will get.
A maintenance loan,
the largest part of this is non means tested, so about 70%
any student can apply for.
But if you want the other 30% you will have to submit your income details
and be assessed
on your income
as you would for maintenance grant.
Students who have a disability or
learning needs
can apply for a Disabled Students Allowance
and this is assessed at an Assessment Centre
and can range from note takers,
or extra PC allowance, it can
range from adapting a building or wheelchair, anything like that
you might have a need for.
The Disabled Students Allowance can help you towards that, so it is really worth applying
In addition,
for students who have some severe needs,
we have a fund from the Government which every University receives,
called the Access to Learning Fund.
This is designed
not to cover tuition fees,
but to help with everyday living costs
that some students may find more burdensome than others.
Its quite strictly means tested
and offsets income against any allowed expenditure that you
would be expected to have as a student
and see if a shortfall arises. In which case, you could get a grant.
So,
it is well worthwhile finding out about the Access to Learning Fund,
and see if you fall into one of the priority groups.
Priority groups at the moment are lone parents,
mature families with children
and students with a disability,
and also final year students,
who often have less student support so can get some help from the fund.
Every year
student funding produces a lovely booklet,
this is the one for 2011,
and in it you will find all the information any student would need
ranging from
what the costs are in fees and accommodation,
, right the way through to some budgeting advice,
and the funding you can get
and there’s a lovely
table here which gives you
a quick guide
to all the funding you should investigate.
We then also go on to tell you a lot more about
the various types of funding, tuition fees
and the loans,
also explaining a little bit
about how you would repay your loan once you have finished your studies.
The bursaries and scholarships are also in there,
so try and pick up a copy of that at either the open days or contact student funding
and ask for one to be sent to you.
Lastly,
you’re all asking the question well how do I apply,
these days all students apply direct to the Student Loans Company
but you will find all the information you need, and forms and application
details on
www.direct.gov.uk
which is a very informative site and I’m sure you will find everything you need.
If you still have queries after that about studying at Coventry University
and funding problems
you can always contact my team at Student Funding
on 02476 15 2040/2050.
alternatively once you’ve enrolled do come into the Student Centre
and ask to speak to a Student Funding Adviser.
You will find the team very helpful,
and they will be able to find, I’m sure, an answer to any question
that you might have.